Painful Kidney Stone?
Consider Lithotripsy.
The Only Non-Invasive Kidney Stone Treatment

The good estimate would be about an hour. Treatment times can vary based on the size, density and specific location of where your stone is at the time of your treatment.

Patients typically will receive some form of monitored anesthesia care prior to their lithotripsy treatment. This will help to reduce or eliminate any discomfort you may have during the procedure. Discuss your options with your treating physician.

The success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment is largely dependent on whether the patient is a good candidate for the treatment. The factors that may impact the success rate include the stone’s size and location as well as the type of stone and the patient’s own body type.  Generally speaking, success rates vary from 75% to 100%.

It is always best to check with your insurance plan to ask what will be covered. TLC provides lithotripsy services at many hospital outpatient departments as well as several Outpatient Surgery Centers. The facility at which you will receive your procedure will also typically have insurance specialists who are familiar with dealing with various insurance companies to find out for the patient the amount(s) that will be covered.

Discuss the ideal anesthesia options for you with your treating physician. This will determine whether you will be asleep during your treatment.

Most patients are able to walk without issue immediately following the procedure. Regular activities can typically be resumed within a day or two after the treatment. Your physician will tell you what to expect after your treatment.

Almost immediately after treatment, broken up pieces of the kidney stone will begin to pass in your urine. This may cause discomfort during urination, and some blood may appear in the urine as well. Your physician will inform you of what to expect after your procedure.

Your treating physician will inform you of any risks associated with lithotripsy. Some patients have experienced infection, urinary tract obstruction by stone fragments, and bleeding around the kidney.

Your physician will discuss kidney stone treatment options. They will likely order certain tests prior to treating your kidney stone. After your physician gets the test results, you can discuss whether lithotripsy is the right choice for you. Reasons lithotripsy may not be recommended may include people who are pregnant or morbidly obese, patients on blood thinners, people with scar tissue build-up within the urinary system and those with chronic kidney infections.